Lead Buyer

Within Yanmar Marine International, Procurement plays a vital role in ensuring the continuity, quality, and competitiveness of our business. As Yanmar continues to grow, we are creating a new Lead Buyer position to strengthen our procurement capabilities, build stronger supplier partnerships, and drive strategic sourcing initiatives across the organisation. This is a unique opportunity to shape a newly established role and make a direct impact on both operational performance and business growth.

What are you going to do?

As our Lead Buyer, you will be responsible for sourcing and purchasing activities for assigned categories, materials, and services. Working closely with Operations, Sales, Finance, Legal, suppliers, and procurement teams across Yanmar entities, you will ensure reliable supply, competitive costs, and strong supplier performance.

This position offers a unique combination of strategic procurement, supplier relationship management, contract negotiations, and stakeholder engagement. You will play a key role in defining procurement strategies, optimising supplier performance, and establishing the foundation for Yanmar Marine International’s future procurement organisation.

Your main tasks and responsibilities:

Procurement Strategy & Sourcing

• Develop and execute purchasing strategies for assigned categories and commodities.
• Identify opportunities for cost reduction, supply continuity, and process improvements.
• Analyse supplier markets, industry developments, and procurement risks.
• Support management with procurement insights and recommendations.
• Drive sourcing initiatives that contribute to Yanmar’s operational and commercial objectives.

Supplier Selection & Contract Management

• Work closely with internal stakeholders to define sourcing requirements and specifications.
• Prepare and manage RFQs, tenders, and supplier selection processes.
• Evaluate supplier proposals and recommend sourcing solutions.
• Lead contract negotiations regarding pricing, delivery conditions, and commercial agreements.
• Manage key supplier contracts and identify opportunities for optimisation and risk mitigation.
• Ensure contract compliance and maintain accurate contract documentation.

Supplier Performance & Relationship Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with strategic suppliers.
• Monitor supplier performance regarding quality, delivery reliability, cost-effectiveness, and service levels.
• Develop and implement supplier improvement plans where required.
• Resolve supplier-related issues and commercial disputes.
• Strengthen supplier collaboration while supporting Yanmar’s long-term procurement objectives.

Procurement Analysis & Reporting

• Monitor market trends, price developments, and supply chain risks.
• Analyse procurement data and provide actionable insights to stakeholders.
• Prepare procurement reports, benchmarks, and performance analyses.
• Maintain accurate purchasing records, supplier data, and procurement documentation.
• Support data-driven decision-making throughout the organisation.

Stakeholder Management & Collaboration

• Act as a trusted procurement partner for internal stakeholders across Operations, Sales, Finance, Legal, and Management.
• Collaborate closely with procurement teams within Yanmar Europe and Japan.
• Build strong internal and external networks to support procurement effectiveness.
• Align sourcing activities with business priorities and stakeholder requirements.
• Influence and engage stakeholders to support procurement initiatives and change.

Leadership & Continuous Improvement

• Coordinate procurement activities across assigned categories.
• Provide functional guidance and support to procurement colleagues where needed.
• Promote procurement best practices and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Help establish and further develop this newly created role within the organisation.
• Support the future growth and professionalisation of the procurement function.

Who are we looking for?

The ideal Lead Buyer combines strong commercial awareness with exceptional analytical and stakeholder management skills. You are comfortable negotiating complex contracts, building long-term supplier relationships, and influencing stakeholders across multiple functions and cultures.

You enjoy operating in an international manufacturing environment and are motivated by creating structure, improving processes, and delivering measurable business results. As this is a newly created position, you are proactive, entrepreneurial, and excited by the opportunity to help shape the future of procurement within Yanmar Marine International.

The ideal candidate:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, working and thinking level.
• Minimum 8 years of experience within procurement, sourcing, purchasing, or supply chain management.
• Experience within an international manufacturing environment is strongly preferred.
• Proven experience negotiating contracts and commercial agreements.
• Strong knowledge of procurement processes, supplier management, and strategic sourcing.
• Demonstrated ability to drive cost reduction and supplier performance improvements.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building capabilities.
• Fluent in English, both written and spoken.
• Additional European languages or Japanese are considered an advantage.

This position is based in Almere, the Netherlands, and operates in an international procurement environment, collaborating closely across Europe and Japan.

What do we offer?

You will join an international and growing organisation where procurement plays an increasingly strategic role. In this newly created position, you will have the opportunity to establish procurement strategies, manage key supplier relationships, and directly contribute to Yanmar’s operational and commercial success.

The role offers significant exposure to senior stakeholders and international procurement teams, providing excellent opportunities for professional growth and future development within the organisation.

Employee Benefits:

• A competitive salary that reflects your knowledge and experience.
• Flexible working hours and the option to work from home.
• A standard working week of 37.5 hours.
• Opportunities for training and professional development.
• Gym subscription and bike plan.
• Employee benefits plan with discounts on various products and services.
• Participation in company outings, sports activities, and events.
• Commuting allowance.
• 27 vacation days (+ the ability to build up time for time).
• 8% holiday allowance and year-end bonus based on company results.